Chapter 121

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Chapter 121: Berserker Is The Strongest

With a resounding explosion, Naya sent the king flying.

Or rather, it was the king who propelled himself back, using Naya’s momentum. He cast a spell to create a shockwave between himself and Naya, distancing himself rapidly.

He could tell at a glance that Naya was no ordinary opponent.

So he couldn’t afford to be careless in direct combat with her.

Soldiers stormed into the hall, surrounding Naya and Hipper.

Naya quickly retreated, holding Hipper close, her spear braced protectively in front. Watching the soldiers streaming into the hall, she shouted:

“Don’t come any closer! I’ll kill your princess if you do.”

Naya planned to use Hipper as a bargaining chip.

Throughout their journey, Hipper hadn’t killed anyone publicly.

This way, Naya could make it appear that the princess was an innocent hostage, and that she herself was the intruder here to assassinate the king.

After all, Hipper still needed to establish herself in this kingdom, one day perhaps becoming Queen. Naya couldn’t allow her to stand against public sentiment.

As expected, seeing Naya with a hostage, the soldiers halted, forming a circle around her with a three-meter radius.

The king remained at the back, now guarded by soldiers. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t engage Naya directly.

He saw through Naya’s ploy immediately.

However, the princess was not yet queen, she didn’t hold enough importance to intimidate the soldiers.

The king’s voice rang out with powerful authority.

“Soldiers! For the peace of our kingdom, for the dignity of humanity, sacrifices must be made. We cannot allow dragons to desecrate our palace, nor let them defile the glory of the Kingdom of Dia. I will pardon any lapse in regard to the princess, no matter the cost, kill that silver-haired dragon.”

He had once felt some familial affection for Hipper, but now, this rebellious daughter was colluding with dragons to betray their kingdom.

Keeping her alive would only bring endless trouble.

Better to let her die alongside that silver-haired dragon.

To the soldiers, the king’s orders were more binding than the princess’s life. They tightened the encirclement, rushing toward Naya.

“Stand back!”

Hipper activated her power again, taking control of the soldiers and ordering them to apprehend the king instead.

However, as some soldiers withdrew, the king’s figure vanished.

“Blast it, that old fool… Search the place! Find him at all costs! I’ll reveal his crimes to the world!”

Under Hipper’s control, the soldiers dispersed in all directions.

Yet, some soldiers, unaffected by her powers, looked around in confusion at those following Hipper’s orders.

What was happening? Could the princess’s authority actually outweigh that of the king?

“Princess…”

Baris, now fully conscious, picked up his fallen sword and stood, looking at Hipper with a mix of disbelief.

“Are you… a vampire?”

While some low-ranking soldiers might lack the knowledge to recognize her ability, Baris, a seasoned warrior, knew well the telltale signs of a vampire’s skills.

“Yes, and that is why I’ve returned to exact revenge. Baris, didn’t you hear? It was that old man who turned me into this. He concealed the truth from everyone, conducting inhumane experiments that turned me into a half-human, half-vampire. To keep his secrets, he even killed my mother.”

A vampire’s abilities include not only “Domination”, but also “Recollection”.

Domination is a direct power over the minds of those weaker than the caster, making them puppets.

Recollection, the skill Hipper initially used on Illya, allows others to see her memories.

With these two skills, Hipper felt confident she could win this battle.

By controlling most of the palace’s officials and showing them her memories, she could expose her father’s deeds and gain their trust.

“Could it be true that His Majesty did such things? It would explain why you were kept confined in the palace…”

“Exactly.”

Baris looked at Hipper, his expression complicated.

“Princess…”

“So, Baris, what will you choose? Will you join me in uncovering the king’s vile deeds, or side with him and bury this dark truth forever?”

The princess’s words rang true, when she confronted the king earlier, Baris had indeed heard the king mention vampires.

Baris knelt on one knee, pressing a hand to his chest.

“I pledge to stand with you, Princess, to uncover the truth.”

“Good, Baris. You are indeed a man of justice.”

A glimmer of joy appeared in Hipper’s eyes, touched by the feeling of being trusted.

Baris stood up, gripping his sword tightly in both hands.

Watching Naya behind Hipper, Baris spoke.

“But first, we must deal with this outsider. Come to my side, Your Highness.”

Hipper frowned.

“She’s my ally, standing on the same side as us.”

“But she’s a dragon. Not of our kin, and thus not one of heart. She couldn’t be helping you for nothing, Your Highness. Since she’s escorting you back, it’s clear she wants something from you, something she intends to take from our kingdom.”

“No, Baris. They’re all good people… they’re allies of justice.”

Baris looked once more at the young, silver-haired princess.

The princess, perhaps, was too young to understand the conflicts between races.

So, when the dragons offered to help her seek the truth, she accepted without hesitation.

After all, a child’s view of the world is simple, either black or white.

Anyone who helped her, regardless of race, was a good person. This was why she trusted the dragons enough to let them guard her.

Baris, however, wished to protect humanity, to protect the kingdom.

He couldn’t let the princess be used by the dragons.

Baris nodded.

The other soldiers in the hall, understanding Baris’s silent signal, moved in to seize Naya.

“What are you doing?!”

Hipper was about to use her powers to control the soldiers once again when Naya placed a gentle hand over her eyes, speaking softly.

“Don’t rely on your power too much. Or else… you’ll fully become a vampire.”

With that, Naya, wielding her spear, spun around Hipper, her movements swift and graceful, fending off the soldiers one by one.

“This agility… it’s hard to believe you’re a dragon.”

Baris looked at Naya in shock.

Dragons generally disdained human combat techniques, like swordsmanship or spearmanship. When in their dragon forms, they could easily overpower most humans. Fighting in human form was usually a hindrance for them.

But watching Naya’s elegant, skillful spearwork left Baris deeply shaken.

However, Naya had no interest in humoring Baris’s astonishment.

Their goal was the king. As long as they could subdue him, their mission would be complete.

There was no reason to waste time on minor enemies.

“Hipper, let’s go.”

With her spear in one hand, Naya held Hipper’s hand with the other.

“Stop, dragon!”

They turned toward the hall entrance, where a mother-daughter pair of paladins stood.

Semira glared at Naya with steely determination.

“Hand over the princess.”

“Semira!” Hipper called her name. “Obey me!”

At the instant Hipper activated her power, Semira swiftly closed her eyes, shouting aloud:

“Domain, activate!”

The paladin tossed various items to the ground—a sword, a staff—which then dissolved into particles of light. All the energy was absorbed by Semira, successfully expanding her domain and pulling Naya into it.

Semira’s hands were empty, but her gaze was resolute.

As long as she upheld the honor of a knight, anything could become her weapon—even the radiance of the heavens.

“Come forth, King!”

Naya looked up at the towering ten-meter armor.

Recalling Illya’s description of Semira’s domain, she realized King looked just like this.

The princess wouldn’t be in immediate danger. In fact, she could use her ability to control others to fight for her.

For now, Naya’s focus was to take down Semira.

Flames began to surge from the tip of Naya’s spear.

Her small figure clashed against the massive armor, sparks flying in a fierce collision.

From her initial confidence, Semira’s expression turned grim. Within less than a minute of battle, she could sense something was wrong.

[System, that’s… a world-class sacred artifact!]

[It seems so, Host.]

[How can that be?]

Semira stared anxiously at Naya. Even without her dragon form, Naya was still overpowering the King.

After several rounds of battle, Naya had more or less gauged the strength behind King’s strikes.

“It’s time to end this.” She planted her spear firmly in the ground.

“Divine Shield!”

Now, no matter how much King struck with its massive broadsword, Naya stood unwavering. A soft golden light shone between the sword and her fiery red shield.

Naya looked up at the towering figure.

A dark mist emerged from her, forming a giant dragon’s head that lunged toward King’s helmet with a powerful bite.

“No!”

Semira swiftly dispelled her domain.

This dragon—could it devour anything?

Semira could feel the terrifying, disintegrative power within the black aura emanating from Naya, reminiscent of how it had devoured the Sacred Fruit near Rex City.

She wanted to devour King!

Desperation filled Semira as the domain shattered. It felt like every dragon she faced was a formidable foe.

A wave of profound defeat washed over her as she looked around, her mother right by her side.

Yet now, she and her mother, Paladin Samiya, found themselves surrounded.

After Naya had been pulled into the domain space, Hipper had continually used her powers, controlling everyone present except for the paladin and Baris.

“Hipper!”

Naya leapt out of the encirclement and found Hipper near Baris, kneeling on the ground with blood seeping from her left eye.

Hipper clutched her chest, her brows furrowed in evident pain.

“Stay away from Her Highness, dragon!”

Baris blocked Naya’s path to Hipper.

He could allow Hipper to control the soldiers in the palace, but he couldn’t let her stand alongside a dragon.

“I will help Her Highness fulfill her wishes. I’ll protect her as she searches for His Majesty. Dragon, you should step back.”

“Just you? You were swatted away by the king with a single blow.”

“This is an internal matter of our kingdom, not something for you dragons to interfere in.”

Naya listened to the sounds behind her—Semira and her mother were battling the soldiers under Hipper’s control—while keeping an eye on Baris and Hipper.

Hipper, due to her excessive use of power, was beginning to succumb to the influence of her vampire bloodline. Sharp fangs extended from her mouth as she lunged at Baris, aiming to bite his neck.

“Your Highness!”

Baris took a deep breath, then forcefully pushed the young princess away.

Clutching his neck, he looked back.

His princess, once with emerald-green eyes, now had crimson-red ones. Blood-stained fangs pressed against her lip, her red gaze reflecting a thirst for blood.

Naya observed these changes, and her system gave her an alert.

[Host, Hipper has fully turned into a vampire.]

[What now?]

How would she explain this to Illya?

“Here I am! Semira, long time no see~”

Speak of the devil. Illya sauntered boldly into the palace alone.

“Illya!”

Seeing Illya filled Semira with mixed emotions.

She wasn’t sure if she should feel relief or anger.

By this time, most of the soldiers attacking the paladin mother and daughter had been defeated. The last few maddened soldiers rushed at them but were swiftly cut down by the paladins.

In the vast palace hall, only Baris, the mother-daughter paladin duo, Naya, Hipper, and the newly arrived Illya were left standing.

Illya stood with her hands on her hips.

“Semira, if you’re going to run, now’s the time. We’ve taken control of Boros Palace.”

Mother will soon bring the king here. Flanna and Bella are engaged with some high-level humans.

Now, it’s time to reconnect with old friends~

“Illya, what is your true objective? Kidnapping the princess… you clearly have ulterior motives, don’t you? Even if you forcefully stage a coup, the Kingdom of Dia will never recognize you. Stolen power will eventually come back to bite you.”

“What are you talking about, Semira? We’re just here to seek justice for Hipper. Why did the king kill her mother? What has he done to Hipper in the past? We want answers to all of that. If possible, I’d even like the king to turn Hipper back into a human.”

“Still making excuses, Illya. We won’t hand the Kingdom of Dia over to you!”

Semira stood back-to-back with her mother. Her mother faced Naya, while Semira stared down Illya.

Illya blinked her innocent eyes.

“I have no interest in the Kingdom of Dia. I just want the princess to truly gain her freedom, to find the answers to her own life.”

Upon hearing Illya’s straightforward words, Hipper closed her eyes, covering her mouth as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. She felt unworthy of facing Illya.

She would never again taste the normal foods of the world. In a moment of impulse, she had drunk Baris’s blood.

Now, every food she remembered seemed dull and faded. Blood was the most delicious drink in the world.

Apart from that, Hipper no longer desired anything else. She could feel the transformation in her own blood.

Due to her frequent and intense use of her powers, the vampire bloodline had completely overtaken her body.

Semira looked into Illya’s pure eyes, realizing that Illya wasn’t lying. She bit her lip.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you choose the princess? When I first met you, I thought you weren’t interested in humans. You barely paid me any attention. So why are you so intent on helping the princess now?”

“Because… she’s the princess.”

Semira couldn’t understand. Was she not pretty enough? Wasn’t the prestige of a Casimir knight from the Goss Empire greater than that of a mere princess from a small kingdom? Why was Illya so devoted to the princess?

She felt a sharp pang of jealousy.

Taking a deep breath, Semira decided that if reasoning wouldn’t work, then she’d make Illya suffer through battle.

“Let’s duel, Illya.”

Another domain?

In the real world, Semira’s frail frame wouldn’t even be a match for Illya, right?

“Can the princess come in and watch?”

Naya interjected, cutting into the exchange between the two girls.

“I want her to see me completely thrash you, rather than you just beating me one-sidedly.”

“Illya, enough fooling around. Why did you come here alone?”

“Mother’s off to capture the king. She said this place was safe, so she let me come over.”

Safe? There was a saint-rank human with a system here, not to mention a paladin who could wield Excalibur.

Both mother and daughter had maxed-out growth potential.

If they powered up again in this battle, things could get troublesome.

Looking at Naya, Samiya spoke softly to her daughter.

“Semira, don’t be afraid.”

Reinforcements from the Goss Empire were on the way, she would not surrender the Kingdom of Dia.

As long as they held out until reinforcements arrived, they would still have a chance to defeat these dragons.

Semira nodded, her heart racing. With things as they were, she had no chance against Illya on her own.

[System, can you lend me some power?]

[…]

[System, please. This is not the time to hold back.]

[Very well.]

Borrowing energy was akin to what Naya had done when she first turned into a dragon.

It meant overtaxing the system’s lifespan.

Using the system’s energy in advance could harm the host’s growth potential. Some systems, selfishly, might even refuse to lend their energy to the host.

Semira’s system thought the wisest course was to flee—revenge could always be taken later.

But this concerned the Kingdom of Dia’s very fate. If they fled, the kingdom would be overtaken and ruled by dragons.

So, to earn Semira’s trust, the system couldn’t withhold its energy.

Energy began to pour from the void into Semira.

[Warning, warning! Detected a surge in Semira’s energy density. Host, please protect Illya.]

Naya’s system issued an alert.

“Illya!”

Naya rushed toward Illya, but the paladin stepped forward, sword in hand, thrusting it at Naya.

“Stop!”

“Out of my way!”

Naya swung her spear, parrying the paladin’s sword.

With no time to lose, a silvery light flashed from Naya’s body.

“Roar!!!”

With a mighty dragon’s roar, a massive silver dragon burst through the ceiling of the hall, spreading its wide, feathered wings, and soared in Illya’s direction.

“Domain, deploy!”

Just before the light emerging from Semira could envelop Illya, Naya threw herself over Illya’s small frame.

Looking around, Naya realized she and Illya were once again pulled into Semira’s domain.

In front of Semira appeared two knights in armor, one black and one white.

One held a black lance, while the other wielded a white, broad-tipped sword.

Semira, looking exhausted, fixed her gaze on Naya and Illya. To make her summoned beings stronger, she’d sacrificed her own magic as well.

If she were defeated here, she wouldn’t be able to use any magic for an entire year.

“I’m ready to die for this, Illya. This time, I have to win.”

“Herax!”

Illya called out from Naya’s arms in her dragon form.

Inside the domain, Illya could draw on her magic to bring forth her own summoned creature from memory.

The pulse of the earth absorbed Illya’s magic, materializing a massive black dragon in front of her.

“Herax, tear them apart!” Illya commanded.

But Herax didn’t budge. It turned its head to gaze at Naya in her dragon form.

Then, it lowered itself to the ground on its forelimbs, silently bowing to Naya and Illya.

“Herax, what are you doing? Now’s not the time for kneeling—we’re in the middle of a fight! They’re about to strike; move!”

Illya was frantic.

Naya, holding Illya gently in her claws, looked at the black dragon before her in surprise.

Herax wasn’t bowing to Naya herself, but rather to something within her.

Naya felt a spirit within her belly responding to the black dragon, with waves of energy passing through her.

Herax was communicating with the souls of the child within her.